You can’t say the Flyers were held completely out of the 2010 NHL entry draft.

As the first round of the draft came to an end in Los Angeles on Friday, the Flyers got their usual draft-day ink by trading the rights of defenseman Dan Hamhuis to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a third-round selection in the 2011 entry draft.

Hamhuis’ rights were acquired from the Nashville Predators, five days ago, in exchange for young Flyers defenseman Ryan Parent.

Twenty-seven year old Hamhuis and the Flyers were at odds over a new contract which had the blue liner rumored to be asking for upwards of $5 million a year. Hamhuis will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

With the money aimed at Hamhuis now freed up, it is expected that the Flyers will target a high-priced goaltender. Philly was rumored to be close to a deal with the San Jose Sharks for the rights of 34-year-old backstop Evgeni Nabakov.

1. Hamhuis wanted too much money.
2. Pitt offered more than the Flyers expected to get from anyone else.
3. If Nabby is acquired, he can sign a 35-plus contract which will lower his cap hit due to incentives and retirement clauses. *maybe

If you could get Nabby for $3.5-4, Michael Leighton for 1.5-2 or Tim Thomas for a player AND $5 mill per, which would you do?

About

Ryan Bright (Philabright@gmail.com) is a sports writer, born and raised in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of West Chester University, he has been with the Daily Local News in Chester County since early 2007, working as the paper's college and high school ice hockey beat writer. In 2010, began as a contributer for CSNPhilly.com, covering the Flyers and the Philadelphia Union.

Subscribe to Philabright

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.